GUNUNG · Kolombia

Galeras

Volcán Galeras (Urcunina)

Information

Elevation: 4.276 m
Country: Kolombia (CO)
Location / Range: Cordillera Centro-Occidental (Andes), menjulang di atas kota Pasto — Santuario de Flora y Fauna Galeras, Departemen Nariño
Mountain type: Stratovolcano kompleks yang sangat aktif, salah satu gunung berapi paling aktif di Kolombia
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: 1.2167, -77.3667
Difficulty: Sedang secara medan (jalur di lereng), tetapi akses puncak/kawah dibatasi & bergantung tingkat aktivitas vulkanik
Best Season: Musim kemarau relatif Desember–Februari dan Juli–Agustus; utamakan pantau status aktivitas dari SGC (dulu INGEOMINAS)
Permits & Rules: Berada dalam Santuario de Flora y Fauna Galeras; pendakian ke kerucut atas/kawah kerap DILARANG dan hanya boleh dengan otorisasi resmi saat status aktivitas mengizinkan
Hazards: Aktivitas vulkanik (letusan mendadak, semburan abu & gas beracun), zona bahaya yang dapat berubah, ketinggian ~4.276 m, kabut; sejarah tragedi 1993 yang menewaskan sembilan orang di kawah

Description

Galeras (4,276 m) is a highly active complex stratovolcano in the Colombian Andes, rising directly above the city of Pasto in Nariño Department. It is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes and is protected as the Galeras Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. Because of its frequent activity, access to the summit cone and crater is tightly regulated—often closed outright ('lugar prohibido')—and only opens when the Colombian Geological Survey's monitoring status allows it. The 1993 Galeras disaster remains a stark warning: a sudden eruption killed nine people (including six scientists) who were inside the crater during a volcanology conference. For visitors, activity usually means hiking the lower flanks via trails such as Mapachico/San José with views over Pasto and the Nariño landscape, rather than reaching the crater rim.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Ascenso ke kerucut atas / bibir kawah (terbatas)

Sedang–berat, akses dibatasi

1 hari

The climb to the summit cone (4,276 m) and crater rim only opens when volcanic activity status allows and with official authorisation; it is often fully closed and marked 'acceso prohibido'. Monitor the Servicio Geológico Colombiano status because of eruption and gas hazards.

Source

Sendero lereng bawah dari sisi Pasto (Mapachico)

Sedang (pendakian lereng)

Setengah–1 hari

A lower-flank route on the Pasto side of Galeras (e.g. the Mapachico area) with views over the city and the Nariño landscape. It is the section commonly walked by visitors without entering the crater danger zone; still check the volcano's activity status.

Source

Senderos interpretativos del Santuario (El Frailejonal & Achichay)

Sedang — sendok interpretasi páramo, berpemandu wajib

Setengah–1 hari (berpemandu)

The sanctuary's official ecotourism trails, usually open to visitors: two environmental interpretation paths, El Frailejonal and Achichay, cross misty Andean forest and páramo dotted with frailejones to a viewpoint over Telpis lagoon. The main access is only ~20 minutes' drive from San Juan de Pasto (or via the San Felipe/San José de Córdoba hamlets near Yacuanquer). Visitors must keep to the authorised trails with a certified ranger/guide; this is not a crater climb.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Because Galeras is a highly active volcano protected as a sanctuary, visits are usually flank hikes with views over Pasto—access to the upper cone/crater is often forbidden and only opens when monitoring status allows. The visitor accounts below show the route toward the upper mountain, the 'lugar prohibido' atmosphere, and views of the city and Nariño landscape from altitude.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.